The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-09-17
TWO PROGRESSIVE FIRMS.
While Making Rapid Strides to Fortune
IRE Materially Assisting in Develop
ing and BuildingslI the Com ~ ercial
Importance Of Monroe and west
Monroe.

importance OF Monroe ana west
Monroe.
Observing the unusual activity in
compared with the summer months,
we took it for granted that the fall
trade was opening in earnest, and we
dropped into the house of Mitchell &
Mccormick Wednesday morning to
have n social chat with orr friend DR..
J. II. Mccormick, the firms energetic
manager, about trade, etc. The Doctor
always keeps we'll posted aud being
always willing, also, to impart iufnr-
nation we proceeded to Wnp" him on
the business or look.
In answer to Il quest ton I" thu! effect,
he stated that ne considered the pros
pect decidedly better than last year
and that the coming business season
would be prosperous one.
This answer was based on his own
experience and business foresight and
the thought struck ns that it would not
only be beneficial to the trade of Mon
roe hut interesting to our readers, IL"
| give a review OF the history and busi-
ness of this firm.
1t was established in 1884 and started
on capital of only $1,000, doing
| $40 900 business the first year. Their
capital is now over SIC, 900 aud they do
an annual business of over $4,000.
They anticipate doing an even larger
business this year, having ample funds
on hand to supply all demands; their
stock being kept "jam up'' and ship
ments by the car load lot arriving al.
most daily.
Their trade extends north to Ham
burg, Ark, south into Catahouia, east
into Morehouse and Richland, and on
the west into Lincoln, VIM and jack
son parishes, being confined almost ex-
clusively to merchants in the territory
indicated.
We were naturally surprised at such
rapid progress In the short period Of tour
years and we asked the Doctor how he
had managed to build up such a hand
some jobbiOg trade in so short time
He replied: "My answer to that
question, in q nutshell, is, hard work,
close attention to business, advertising
and by buying for cash only and max
ing quick Sales"
How much grain and groceries do
you handle per week, we then asked $:
"There is not much doing in the
grain market just now, but we sell
during the year about 10000 sacks as
sorted grain. The flour and meal mar
ket is rushing, however. Vessel from
two to three car loads of each per
week. Our SALES Of meat average about
1000 pounds per week."
What profit do you real;za on this
class of goods:
"From p to 5 per cent?
How can you afford to handle goods
on such small margin:
"By buying from first hands-man-
ufacturers and packers-in car load
lots, for cash; by discounting our bills
and by making quick sales, thereby
never allowing our capital to lie dor
lnant. Our motto, you know, is "Quick
Sales and Small Profile"
We then babe the Doctor good day
and went over to see the senior mem
Der of the Arm, our s'aunch and reliable
old friend, Mr.. j. w. Mitchell, who
also does Il general merchandise bust
ness in West Monroe.
We were shown through his large
and comtuodioua store aud found it re,
plete with Il we'll selected and elegant
stock Of goods.
Mr.. Mitchell started in his present
business just ten years ago and his sue
cess has been almost phenomenal.
Doing Il strictly cash business, buy
ing for cash and selling for cash, on the
hypothesis OF "Iuick sales and small
profits" explains his success, and par.
TALLY answers the query go often ask Ell
chow can he sell goods so cheaply"'
There are other answers to this ques-
ton, however. In the first place he
owns the elegant residence he lives in
above West Monroe and pays no rent
no owns the store in which he does
business and pays no rent for il; he
not only buys for Cash bat discounts
every bill no buys, and ii can he truth
fully said that Whenevera bill Of goods
crosses his door it belongs to J. w.
Mitchell.
Doing business on principles like
these there is no reason why there
should be any secrecy about it and
there is absolutely none. After telling
us that business was fairly brisk al
present, with bright prospects for the
coming fall and winter trade, we ask ed
him how the past past years business
balanced up, and got for reply that
he had a 200 stock in store all
paid for, with plenty of surplus cash
on hand to buy more as the trade
might require. But, said he, my
books will show my condition better